Investing in a pair of medical shoes that are designed with the rigours of your profession in mind can help you avoid foot problems. Look for high-quality materials, like leather, which is more durable and easy to clean than other fabrics. You should also find a shoe with a slip-resistant sole, as you may walk through spills and chemicals on your shifts. Additionally, some people have back injuries or sever arthritis that prevent them from reaching their feet to tie laces, so look for models with easier fastening mechanisms, such as Velcro.
Medical footwear is often recommended for those with specific medical conditions, including diabetes. Diabetes can lead to foot complications, such as numbness and sores on the digits, if untreated. Medical-grade shoes are often designed with a flexible neoprene fabric upper to reduce pressure on the forefoot and digital area, thereby reducing pain and discomfort.
As our society increasingly recognises healthcare professionals’ hard work, several brands have started to design shoes with their needs in mind. Clove, for example, has a simple mission to “take care of the people who take care of us”. Their high-tech sneakers were concepted by a nurse and are designed with healthcare workers’ comfort and agility in mind.
The brand’s Air-Cooled Memory Foam insole and lightweight Croslite foam construction ensures that your shoes mould to your feet for support and comfort, while the antimicrobial material and slip-resistant outsoles make them ideal for a hospital environment. The shoes also feature a rearfoot GEL technology to improve stability and an Ortholite X-55 sock liner for enhanced cushioning.